The quiet of the night at Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was shattered when a resident spotted two men moving a casket on an unregistered motorcycle, leading to the arrest of one suspect and a cemetery manager over the alleged exhumation of a freshly buried corpse.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said the suspects allegedly dug up a newly buried body, removed it from the casket and attempted to steal the coffin for resale.

The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on August 3, 2026, when the vigilant resident noticed the two men transporting the casket under the cover of darkness.

Suspicious of the unusual movement, the resident confronted the men and demanded an explanation.

The police said one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, fled, while his alleged accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and handed over to the police.

During interrogation, the command said Nsikak confessed that he and Asuquo had allegedly exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the body from the casket and were taken away the coffin with the intention of selling it for financial gain.

The police recovered the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle allegedly used to transport it, while detectives commenced investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of Elijah Matthew Edet, manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, on August 5.

According to the police, Edet admitted during questioning that he conspired with grave diggers to carry out the alleged act, although he reportedly claimed it was his first involvement in such a crime.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare, condemned the incident, describing it as “barbaric, sacrilegious and morally reprehensible.”

Azare said the alleged act constituted a gross violation of the dignity of the dead, the sanctity of burial grounds and the cultural and religious values of society.

He directed the investigating team to conduct a thorough, intelligence-led investigation to identify and apprehend everyone connected with the alleged crime and ensure that they face prosecution.

The commissioner also commended the resident whose vigilance led to the arrest of one of the suspects and the recovery of the casket.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and provide the police with timely and credible information that could help prevent crime and assist in the arrest of suspects.

The command said investigation is ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect, Asuquo, and bring all those allegedly involved in the incident to justice.